Harley-Davidson reaches new 5-year labor agreement for its Kansas City plant

The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM), the United Steelworkers (USW) and Harley-Davidson have reached a new five-year collective bargaining agreement, which will go in effect Aug. 1. It will cover unionized employees at the company’s Vehicle and Powertrain Operations in Kansas City, according to a H-D press release.

The agreement will offer improvements in wages, hours and working conditions for all hourly employees, the release stated.

The contract provides 3.5-4 percent wage increases in each of the five contract years, and employees will continue to pay no monthly premium contribution for health-care coverage.

The new agreement will run through July of 2012. Together, the IAM and USW represent about 850 Harley-Davidson employees in Kansas City, where the company’s Dyna, Sportster and VRSC motorcycles are produced.